Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali risks being perceived as a "jaguh kampung" (home ground champion) if he fails to register an official complaint on US attorney-general Jeff Sessions' description of the 1MDB scandal as "kleptocracy at its worst", said a senior lawyer who represents Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mohd Haniff Khatri Abdulla said Apandi should file an official complaint with the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur and demand an apology on behalf of Malaysia.

"At the same time, Apandi should also appoint a lawyer in the US to intervene in the legal process of forfeiture there if what is claimed by Sessions is false and show proof that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is not involved in the scandal.

"If Apandi does not do this, he would be seen as a 'jaguh kampung' and 'pengecut antarabangsa' (international coward)," Haniff added...